Car-coupling



(No Model.) Y

C. N. A'LDE AN.

GAR COUP Nol 443,841. Patented Deo. 30, 1890.

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f C" "umm" UNITED STATES ATENT Prion.

CHARLES N. ALDERHAN, OF STREATOR, ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 443,841, dated December 30, 1890.

Application filed October 2, 1890. Serial No366,836. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES N. ALDERMAN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Streator, in the county of La Salle and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gar-Couplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which forni a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in car-couplings, the same being designed more particularly as an improvement upon my prior patent, dated December 16, 1884, No. 309,329,1he' present invention consisting in certain details of construction, whereby the draw-head can be readily converted from an automatic coupling into one using the usual coupling pin and link.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a per.- spective view of a car-coupling constructed in accordance with my invent-ion. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view.

A refers to the car-body, to which thc drawhead B is secured in the usual manner, so as to be capable of a rearward spring movement. The draw-head B has the usual link-opening b, the rear portion of which is formed to provide a shoulder c, against which the swinging coupling-pin C will abut when the link is in contact with the rear portion thereof. The part of the coupling-pin C which lies within the draw-head is rearwardly extended, and the lower portion thereof lies in a slot or recess d, above which is the aperture within which the ordinary link lies to abut against the enlargedA part of the coupling-pin. The swell or enlargement of the depending portion of the coupling-pin will vary according to the different lengths of links and the amount of play it is desired to give between the cars. The coupling-pin C has formed integral therewith a rearwardly-extending portion C', the end of which is bent downward for a short distance, as shown in Fig. 2, and this coupling-pin is secured to the draw-head by a horizontal pin e, which passes through the lugs or ears ff on the upper side of the draw-head, the pin being secured in place by a spring-key,'so that it can be readily removed when desired. In front of the horizontal perforations in the draw-head through which passes the pin e is an opening or aperture E, into which maybe passed an ordinary lcoupling-pin when the coupling-pin C is removed, and rear of the lugs ff the upper face of the draw-head is recessed at F, over which will lie the member C of the coupling-pin, and within this recess F normally lies the lower end of a bell-crank lever G, which is pivoted kto the car-body, the forward end thereof being bent at right angles to engage with the member C of a coupling-pin. This bell-crank lever is either operated from the sides of the car by a rod I-I, having a central bent portion which engages with one member thereof, orby a iexible connection I and rod I', which extends to the top of the car.

A car-coupling constructed as shownin the drawings will be automatic on operation, and is adapted to be used with the ordinary coupling-links, and should for any reason it be desired to do away with the automatic feature of my invention the pivoted couplingpin C can be removed and the ordinary coupling-pin used in connection with the drawhead.

Draw-,heads of ordinary construction can be readily changed to adapt my improvements thereto.

The rear swell on the lower member of the coupling-pin not only gives greater width and strength to said pin, but locates one end of the coupling-link well within the draw-head, so that the draw-heads when coupled will be held close.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let` IOO @11d of the same being bont; at right :mg-los to In testimony whereof I affix my signuturoin engage with the member C of the oouplingpresence of two Witnesses.

)in a crank-shaft; H @da )ted to www@ with l T j 1 gcheupper member ofthe bleu-crank lavcor, and ('UARLFb N' ALDMNMAN 5 connections I and l', connected directly to `\\"itnesses:

said uncoupling-lever, substantially nsshown, REUBEN SCHURTZ, and for the purpose set forth. JAS. B. FINCHURE. 

